Well I’m not planing on strapping on my running shoes and leave everything behind for an unknown amount of time, but I have been getting into running again. I started running again right before my vacation started, and I brought my workout clothes with me so that I could continue on with the good habit even though I’m away from home. And so far I’ve been doing really good. I’ve been out running every day this week, and I can already feel a difference in my pace and endurance.

And one thing that I’ve noticed after I started taking my purple shoes out to get some air more often, is that my writing is flowing more smoothly. I’m very well aware that a healthy body helps out when it comes to a healthy mind as well, but I think the main reason why it’s having such a wonderful impact on my creative process, is this;

When I run, my mind clears up. I move through the forest and my thoughts run off to everywhere and nowhere all at once. It’s a form of meditation. A way to disconnect and silence all the inner voices that I shouldn’t listen to, and to connect with all that is good for me. The deeper into the forest I get, the deeper into my own mind I dive. And in the inner, most silent corners of my mind, I find the important parts. The thoughts that hides away in fear of being seen. The ones that shines brightly as soon as they are lifted out of the dark and into the light.

So that is one of the main reasons why I now drag myself out daily to sweat it out under the trees shadows.

I run because my mind need it. I run because the sounds of nature silence the words of doubt and fear. I run because I love how it makes me feel, and how it makes me write.

Today was not one of my best days. I just felt tired and slightly ill all day. Had a headache creeping up on my all day at work and it just didn’t want to let go! But as the positive person that I try to be, I tried my best to have a big smile on my face and pretend like I wasn’t in any sort of pain. It sort of worked, but as soon as I got home, had my dinner and Leander went out to play with some friends after he finished his homework, I just got so tired. I considered taking a nap, but felt like I had way too many things that I had to do. I wanted to cram in a little bit of writing, but my brain just wasn’t able to put words down onto paper at all, so I gave that up.

I stood a full ten minutes just staring out the window before my body started working without the mind really paying attention. It went to my cupboard and started picking out ingrediens for vegan cinnamon swirls. I then started to listen to one of my current listenings on Audible (which is Bird by Bird by Susan Bennett, if you were wondering) and then I just started baking. There was something so therapeutic about it. I definitely rediscovered my love for food and baking after I decided to go vegan, and the meditation of baking is just something that happened out of the blue. I tried a few recipes and then it just happened by itself. Now I find myself getting lost in the textures, the smell and taste. The joy of sharing what I make with friends, family or coworkers just gives me so much joy!

So my not so great day turned into two trays of cinnamon swirls! Not so bad! Not so bad after all 🙂

I’ve only been a vegan for 2 months now and (as I’ve mentioned before) it’s been an amazing journey so far! But it also has me raging, wanting to scream at the top of my lungs! Because one of the really interesting things about committing to going vegan, is the need to become educated. And when you walk the path of knowing, you can never unwalk it again. You learn what you learn, and you can choose to believe it or not, but you can never choose to have not learned it.

My road of education has only just begun, and I do my very best to learn new things every day. I don’t ever want to be a person that thinks that there’s nothing more I need to know. There’s always more to know. And you can never be fully educated when it comes to life and lifestyles.

So I read, I watch and I listen. I talk to heart and I choose my paths thereafter. I think the most important documentaries I’ve watched about plant based diets are these three:

Forks Over Knives

PlantPure Nation

Cowspiracy

And it’s just so infuriating to watch how politics and money plays such a huge part in not making this all public knowledge. It’s scary to see know how much power agriculture has. And how they silence the people that devotes their lives that wants the truth to come out. And yes, that makes me ANGRY as hell!

We need to wake up and see the truth. We need to change our lives. We need to change the way we live and the way we eat if we really want what is best for our environment, our kids and our health.

My best friend (and amazingly talented fine art photographer) Kirsti has an Earth Hour project going on, on her blog. It features beautiful pictures every day and with it comes some tips for us all to live a better life. I highly recommend you check it out! http://hegrebackman.wordpress.com

And I know a lot of people are thinking:

‘But what the hell do you eat?’

And I think the answer might surprise you, in a good way! Living a plant based lifestyle is not about having a salad for every meal. I’ve never made so much tasty and wonderful food as I’ve had now that I committed to this. And I want to share it with you guys!

Don’t worry, this blog won’t be just about food from now on, I’m still just as obsessed with books and poetry as I’ve always been. But this place here, is my little corner of the internet. And with my personal corner I want to get even more personal with you guys and talk about what matters to me. And this MATTERS!

So I will be sharing some recipes with you. Some in video form, others in picture/written form. Because sharing is caring! And even though I do get angry in this process, I’m also filled with hope for a better future 🙂

Those of you who follow me on Instagram already know about this huge change that I made to my life, a little over a week ago. It’s something that has been on my mind for quite some time, but to commit to eat felt kind of scary and overwhelming. I just didn’t have the motivational drive to start. And when it comes to complete lifestyle changes, motivation and dedication is key!

So what is this big change you ask? Drumroll please!!

I’ve gone VEGAN!

I think the decision to go vegan was made up by many little things. I’ve been tempted for so long to make the change, but I just had no idea where to start. But then I watched a video clip (a friend of mine shared it on Facebook) of a cow about to be slaughtered by a gunshot through the head, and the cow was franticly trying to avoid the little red aiming light. That’s when something just clicked inside of me, and I just decided that it was time to make a difference.

And you might think that it doesn’t make that much of a difference in the big picture of thing! But the big picture is composed by all of us individuals and the choices we make. And guess what! A vegan lifestyle of one person, saves one animal. EVERY DAY! That adds up to a whole lot of them over the years. And it’s not only about saving animal lives (even though that’s hugely important), it’s about our planet (pollution, saving the rainforest etc) and it’s also about my own health.

When you start to really look at the food labels, it’s cringeworthy to see what it is we’re putting inside of us on a daily basis. No wonder we’re getting sicker and fatter. It’s time to take care of this body. It’s the only one I’ll ever have!

And I’ve found so many amazing vegan recipes already!

Like these vegan salty chocolate cookies:

I’ve been vegan for little over a week now, and I already feel so much better!

So I’m taking you with me on this journey! Hop along and discover with me 🙂